KAZAKHSTAN and CANADA: education
11:21 PM
Being a third - year student at Simon Fraser University in Canada, I ve been thinking how different my education experience would be if i were to continue my studies in Kazakhstan.
So, to start with the education system I would say both countries have both advantages and disadvantages, as well as similarities and differences. The North-American universities have similar approaches to getting a particular degree as European and some Asian universities, whereas, Kazakhstan is still more like in the Soviet times.
First of all, I must admit that Kazakhstan`s literacy level is higher than most of the world - 99.6% (2009 report.) - 10th in the world, and Canada is 99.0% (2009 report) - 21st in the world.
The curriculum is very diverse in both countries. In Canada, there is more freedom in terms of what you study, how long for and how many times you can re-take the course in case of failing. Students can choose whatever they want: there is always an opportunity to take a course in Politics even if the major is Business. In Kazakhstan, it is opposite, all courses are compulsory, so there is a fixed schedule for all students depending on the program and year they are in. Moreover, there are groups formed consisting of 15-30 students that study together all the time. These group mates become close friends in time, whereas, in Canada, every student is more like an individual having his/her own schedule and preferred time of graduating from the university. In Kazakhstan, that time is fixed to usually 4-5 years depending on the program, and also everyone studies 6 days a week and has about 5-6 classes a day. Homework is given every day in the universities of Kazakhstan. In Canada, it is not given every day, and students have 1-4 classes a day and study 3-5 days a week.
![whoiswise-desc[1].jpg](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t8IWPNhEDGn1m40PllKGCIrdfAPSxNW2XKz-xVn8dvZZhDHXrylTVc0ItjI_HOOSBYe4f7ZbSvX0tKmVSslChjrNdsb5n4TkCW1JpXkd5puhUB28QmgAP22spGBCqWF30L0WGf6qbtrs8=s0-d)
Throughout school each country shows various relationship between the instructors and the students. The atmosphere in the classroom of the typical Canadian university is too liberal: you can argue with the professor, you can eat or drink during the lecture. In Kazakhstan, the instructors are regarded as authorities, who you have to respect and whose opinions usually cannot be wrong. However, the grades involve personal relationship between the student and the professor, especially when it comes to the oral exams: the professor usually knows the strengths and weaknesses of a particular student. On the other hand, Canadian professors most of the time don`t know their students and grade their papers having no idea who they belong to.What`s more interesting is that as I observe there are more local Canadian students who are enrolled into Arts and Social Sciences, where Kazakhstani students are more interested in technical sciences, computers or business. Such diversity I think starts from the secondary education. In Kazakhstan, the early exposure to Math and sciences begin as early as the first grade and then proceed to algebra, geometry and calculus. In Canada, however, this is substituted with the huge selection of classes, therefore, the students tend to choose easier courses. Moreover, Canadian education is only available in English or French in some places, whereas, in Kazakhstan, schools in Russian and Kazakh languages are everywhere and there are some schools that teach in other languages like English, French, Turkish, Arabic, Uzbek, Uighur, German.
Both education systems have good and bad sides. Canadian schools have more freedom as in choosing different classes, professors and timing. However, in Kazakhstan, students have more option for accelerated math and science classes as well as bilingual education. I think the ideal school would incorporate having both mandatory science and math courses and a variety of elective classes to choose from and also an option to select the language of instruction.
So, to start with the education system I would say both countries have both advantages and disadvantages, as well as similarities and differences. The North-American universities have similar approaches to getting a particular degree as European and some Asian universities, whereas, Kazakhstan is still more like in the Soviet times.First of all, I must admit that Kazakhstan`s literacy level is higher than most of the world - 99.6% (2009 report.) - 10th in the world, and Canada is 99.0% (2009 report) - 21st in the world.
The curriculum is very diverse in both countries. In Canada, there is more freedom in terms of what you study, how long for and how many times you can re-take the course in case of failing. Students can choose whatever they want: there is always an opportunity to take a course in Politics even if the major is Business. In Kazakhstan, it is opposite, all courses are compulsory, so there is a fixed schedule for all students depending on the program and year they are in. Moreover, there are groups formed consisting of 15-30 students that study together all the time. These group mates become close friends in time, whereas, in Canada, every student is more like an individual having his/her own schedule and preferred time of graduating from the university. In Kazakhstan, that time is fixed to usually 4-5 years depending on the program, and also everyone studies 6 days a week and has about 5-6 classes a day. Homework is given every day in the universities of Kazakhstan. In Canada, it is not given every day, and students have 1-4 classes a day and study 3-5 days a week.
![whoiswise-desc[1].jpg](http://blog.lib.umn.edu/eidem025/architecture/whoiswise-desc%5B1%5D.jpg)
Throughout school each country shows various relationship between the instructors and the students. The atmosphere in the classroom of the typical Canadian university is too liberal: you can argue with the professor, you can eat or drink during the lecture. In Kazakhstan, the instructors are regarded as authorities, who you have to respect and whose opinions usually cannot be wrong. However, the grades involve personal relationship between the student and the professor, especially when it comes to the oral exams: the professor usually knows the strengths and weaknesses of a particular student. On the other hand, Canadian professors most of the time don`t know their students and grade their papers having no idea who they belong to.Both education systems have good and bad sides. Canadian schools have more freedom as in choosing different classes, professors and timing. However, in Kazakhstan, students have more option for accelerated math and science classes as well as bilingual education. I think the ideal school would incorporate having both mandatory science and math courses and a variety of elective classes to choose from and also an option to select the language of instruction.
